Appeal for aid for Cotabato
Philippine
National Red Cross (PNRC) chairman and Sen. Richard Gordon said many
parts of Cotabato City remain flooded but are getting little help from
the government.
"I think the (government) agencies have
forgotten about Cotabato," Gordon said, adding that a number of
families in the city choose to stay in their flooded homes instead of
seeking refuge in evacuation centers.
"If you see the people
there, they’re on rooftops. They are in a very difficult situation.
Even the bridges are damaged," he said.
Cotabato Archbishop
Orlando Quevedo, former president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference
of the Philippines (CBCP), also appealed for help for the city’s flood
victims.
The 69-year-old prelate said some 2,800 of the affected
families are staying in 25 evacuation centers, and 11,000 others in
temporary shelters provided by the city government and the Catholic
Church.
Gordon said the Cotabato City needs more food, medicine,
rubber boats, ambulances and four-wheel drive vehicles so those in
far-flung areas could be rescued.
He said there must also be massive effort to repair all the drainage systems destroyed by the floodwaters.
"It
has been two weeks. The Muslim children cannot go to school because
their schools are also submerged. I will ask the NDCC (National
Disaster Coordinating Council) to provide additional assistance to
Cotabato," he said.
Aside from giving donations in cash or kind, Quevedo said city folk unaffected by the flooding could render volunteer work.
"There
are a hundred little things to be done. They could (remove) water
lilies or provide food for the volunteers, list names, repack and
distribute supplies, and visit the evacuees," he said.
"I thank
everyone and every organization – government, non-government, civic
organizations, religious groups, the military – helping take care of
their needs," Quevedo said.
Assistance may be coursed through
the Mindanao Cross, Notre Dame Avenue, Cotabato City; dxMS Cotabato
City, dxND Kidapawan City and dxOM-FM Koronadal City.
Cash
donations may be remitted to Notre Dame University, Metrobank Account
No. 707-490-0107, or the Archdiocese of Cotabato, EastWest Bank Account
No. 63-02-005212.
Gordon, bishop appeal for aid for Cotobato
Philippine Star
07/14/2008
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storyPage.aspx?storyId=125091
